Email this ArticleCarney's 'gorilla dust' history

Carney has used the unusual phrase at least three times in briefings before this week. AP PhotoClose

A search of old White House press briefing transcripts reveals that the phrase “gorilla dust” is actually not a new phrase for White House press secretary Jay Carney.

The Washington Post’s David Nakamura explored the origin of the phrase after “several of the seasoned wordsmiths in the press room agreed they had never before heard the evocative phrase” during Thursday’s briefing.

But a quick look through old White House press archives shows that Carney has used the unusual phrase at least three times in briefings before this week.

“I just want to be clear that when some folks are throwing up a lot of gorilla dust to confuse people about what they’re ruling out,” Carney said on June 27th, 2011, while talking about the Bush tax cuts.

“It’s gorilla dust, as I’ve said in the past,” Carney said on July 19th during the debt ceiling debate.

And a week later, Carney used the phrase again. “It’s just a false argument. It is the gorilla dust that I’ve talked about,” he said, again about the debt ceiling.

12 Comments

OMG I cant believe you people are wasting your time and manpower on something as idiotic as this? Do you know the meaning of reporting the news? Investigate-followup-report. Your facination with Opie is almost perverse. He is an Obama drone that only spews out the party duckspeak every weekday. This is bottom feeding and I hope the gorilla dust chokes some sense into you Bryan Tau.

The real point is that aren't we pretty sick and tired of all the politicking? The partisanship of this administration, all the while calling for compromise when they won't accept any ideas from the GOP is horrendously hypocritical. The GOP has its issues too, to be sure. The level of corruption on both sides in government is appalling, and we need to band together as 'we the people' against the corruption and change things around here. We literally can't afford more of Obama. The leftist media doesn't admit this, but the national debt has nearly hugely increased in three years, and it wasn't pretty to start with ($8T). This doesn't even count the fact that things like Obamacare won't add into the total debt until all parts of the law go into effect, and you can count on the fact that it will be much more expensive than projected, just like any other government program. To top off the horrible debt, all branches of the federal government get an automatic 10% increase in budget each year, based upon spending of the previous year. This is since the 70's. It doesn't take a mathematician to realize this is unsustainable growth and will quickly turn us into the EU. Another problem is that Congress doesn't seem likely to EVER pass a balaced budget amendment, and so many politicians - on both sides- are guilty of crony-capitalism with large campaign contributions from tax-exempt corporations. Contrary to the understanding of those 'standing with the 99%,' Washington has no intention of fixing any problems within Wall Street - they've been in bed with them (on both sides) for decades if not centuries, and have rigged things in the personal favor of their insider trading. We absolutely need to look for politicians - on both sides- who recognize the culture of corruption in Washington bringing us headlong into financial crisis, and who have the character to withstand Washington's corruption and change things for the citizens of the country.

If any of this is news to you, consider your sources of information. You've got to read both red and blue to get a good idea of what's going on anymore, both sides leave stuff out.

"Politico 44 - Living History of the Obama Presidency", thank you for taking the time to investigate Obama's press secretary's use of the term "gorilla dust" instead of taking the time to investigate why Tony Resko was recently convicted and sent to federal prison for over 10 years.

If you ever want an example of why people hate you and your "profession", this is why. If you ever want an example of how to properly do your job, look at Jake Trapper's work.

When a silver-back male gorilla is challenged, he makes a bold show of growling and charging. He pulls up grass and plants with handfuls of dirt, throwing them at his assailant...gorilla dust! Like a peacock demonstrating for a female, the gorilla demontrats for a potential enemy, showing his teeth and threatening. Most politicinas, and press secretaries, have mastered the technique.

Kelso you have been Bsing me as you said you never watch cable but really if you think Madcow is attractive than you need trifocals or at least new glasses. She is an unatractive well manly girl! HA HA and I like the use of your word rube that really dates you wow! Drink your geritol and calm down.